Refrigerator control



H. J. c. WELLS REFRIGERATOR con'rRoL Filed Jan 24, 1922 Fig: 2.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES HERBERT JAMES CLEMENT WELLS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REFRIGERATOR GONTEOL.

Application filed January 24, 1922. Serial No. 531,429.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Hanan-RT J. G. V arms, a subject of the King of Great Britain, re siding at New York, N. Y., have invented a new and useful Refrigerator Control, of which the following is a specification.

Certain types of automatic refrigerators for domestic and other purposes employ compressors and cooling systems controlled by thermostats subject to the temperature of a refrigerated chamber. An ordinary thermostat develops only a. relatively small power with limited changes in temperature permissible. As a consequence, it is customary to employ electric relays or other complicated means to obtain sufficient power to operate the motor and the valve in the cooling water supply. I propose to develop the power necessary from the water supply or from some circulating medium.

In carrying this out I utilize a thermostatic device for partially closing a valve in the water supply line and thus backing up the water into a tilting or float chamber,

' which in turn operates the main valve to shut off the water supply and a switch to open the motor circuit.

Fig. 1 is an end view of apparatus embodying the improvements of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

A conduit 5 is provided for the cooling water. In this conduit are located two valves 6 and 7. The valve 6 has a stem 8 and is normally closed and i adapted to be opened by vapor pressure developed in the thermostat 9 and the expansible chamber 10 and connecting pipe 11. The thermostat 9 is located in the refri erated chamber.

The main valve 7 has a stem 12 with stops 13 and 1 1. This valve is operated by hvdraulic means. such for instance, as the tilting reservoir 15 pivoted at 16 and having an arm 17 adapted to engage the stops 13 and 14 on the valve stem. In the form shown the lever 18 is hinged to the reservoir 15 and suppo ted on the upper end of the rocker arm 19. The weight 20 is adapted to be adjusted along the lever 18 and tends to holdthe reservoir 15 in the position shown in the drawings. The bottom of the reservoir is connected by a pipe 21 to the cooling water conduit 5 at some point between the valves 6 and 7. The pipe 21 is connected to the reservoir in such a manner that it will not interfere with the tilting action. For this purpose in the form shown, a part of the pipe 21 the water slightly and backs up the pressure in the conduit 5, so that water begins to flow through the pipe 21 into the reservoir 15 tending to fill it. Then the filling has proceeded to a. point sufficient to overcome the balance of the weight 20, the tank will swing forward and downward and its arm 17 striking against the stop 14 will forcibly and suddenly close the valve 7 thus entirely shutting off the cooling water. Simultaneously the rocker arm 19 will operate the switch 22 and break the circuit and stop the electric motor. The cooling efi'ect is, of course, not instantly checked, but continues to affect the thermostat, causing the valve 6 to close, and

preventing the water from flowing out from i the reservoir 15. When the temperature of the thermostat begins to rise, the valve (3 will immediately begin to open, so that the reservoir or tank 15 will gradually empty. When the weight 20 overbalances the weight of the reservoir, the reservoir will tilt up again and suddenly open the valve 7 and at the same time automatically allow the switch 22 to close its circuit and start the motor. Cooling water then flows through the conduit 5 until the cycle is completed.

It will be observed the thermostat has very little work to do, as it is simply necessary to move the valve suiiiciently to partially throttle the water supply. The real work of closing the water line is being done by the swinging tank which also operates the elec tric switch. Furthe more. when the thermostatic valve is opened, it is exposed to very slight water pressure namely, merely to that of the height of water in the reservoir 15. It is thus that a thermostat having a maximum operating power on slight temperature changes is able to control effectively the operation of the entire refrigeration apparatus, maintaining the temperature of the refrig a or chain-beiwithin a closer rangeall) operated means forpositively operating. the

other valve, said. latter means being operated automat cally.

2. Asrefi gerator control apparatus comprising a li u l. supply conduit, two valves therein;

thermostatic means subject to the temperature of the refrigeratortor controllingf one out said valves, a hydraulic. device for operating the other valve and a connecton from'said hydraulic device to said conduit between, said valves.

8. Control apparatus comprising a liquid supply conduit,- a main valve therefor, a

thermostatically operated. valve fo'r said conduit forthr'ottling the liqu d therein, means for passing water through said conduit, said means including an electric motor, an electric' switch for controlling the c rcuit through said motor and an hydraulically operated member connected to said conduit ton operating said switch and said main Valve h i ei r'ig'erat'ng apparatus including a condnit, thermostatically controlled means subject to the temperature of the refrig'e'rator for th gottling liquid in said conduit, a. mainfvalvjc for sad: conduit, a mov ab e tankv for operating said. valve, and a connection between said conduit and said v tank so that, npon throttling the'liqnid, the

niafn valve. W Y V 5; refrigerating apparatus including a Iiqnid supply conduit, a main valve therein,

a thing. tank for operating said valve, a

1 connecting said; conduit and said tank, W11th mo tet eel-lv Cent-relied m w u ect to thete'mperature of the; refrigerator 'foncausing liquidito flow through said pipe k will be filled and moved to close said;

into tank to operate" the same and shut the man valve.

6. A refrigerating apparatus including aliquid supplyconduit, afmain valve there for, a tilting tank for operating said valve, a ipe connecting sa d conduit and said tangr, and thermostatically controlled means subject to the temperature of the refrigerator for controlling the flow of liquid into and out of said pipe and thereby controlling the closing; and opening of said man valve.

7. A refrigeratingapparatus including a liquid supply conduit, a' main valvethere'for, a tilting tank for pos'it vely operating said valve, and thermostatically controlled means subject tothe temperature or the refrigen atorfor initiating the filling and emptying of said tank, means, including a niotor for,

forc ng liquid? through: said conduit, and a 'switch/ operable by the tilting oi the tank to throw the motor into and out of operation.

8. refrigerator control mechanism comprising a cooling Water conduit, two valves located in said conduit, temperature controlled-means for operat ng one of said valves, a movable tank connected to said conduit between said valve's'and an operative connection between said second valve and said tank whereby the closing of the first valve forces watentofiow intosaid' tank and the filling ofsaid' tankmoves said tank to close said second valve and whereby the open'iig of said. first, valve allows saidt-ank to drain and by a subsequent movement to open said second valve} I 9 A refrigerator control mechanism-00hr prising a coolingliqfnid conduit,- two valves located in said conduit, temperature controlled means tor operating one of sa d valves, a movable tank connected to said conduit between said valves and an operative connection between said second valve and said tank whereby the closing of the firstvalve forces water meow into said tankandthe filling of said tank moves said tank to 7 cin sad second, valve and' whereby, theopenirig of said first valve allows said tank-todrlain and by a subsequent movement to open saidisecond valve, means, including a motor, toicause liquidto flow'throughsaid conduit, switchioperated' by said tank totlirow said'iilot'oi 'ntcpr out oflmeration.

' n'saarjsr 'JAME SjCLEMENT WELtS. 

